He'd been waiting downstairs early.
He'd even thoughtfully prepared a bouquet of lilies—flowers I didn't care for in the slightest.
"Agatha, there's a sapphire necklace tonight that I know you'll love. No matter what it goes for, I'll win it for you. How does that sound?"
He held the bouquet out to me.
I took it.
Then tossed it straight into the trash.
"I like daisies."
Bruno's expression froze mid-smile.
He scrambled to follow me into the venue, apologizing the entire way.
The ballroom was packed with the city's elite.
The moment we stepped inside, envious glances landed on us from every direction.
Bruno straightened up immediately.
He thrived on this kind of attention. His grip on my arm tightened without him even realizing it.
As if he really were the flawless golden heir the Henson name promised.
But all of this was part of my plan.
Just as Bruno was settling into the evening, convinced everything was going smoothly, certain he could bask in the spotlight all night—
The unexpected arrived.
His phone began vibrating relentlessly.
He silenced it fast, but not fast enough. I caught the number on the screen.
Genevieve's.
He tried to act like nothing had happened.
I tilted my head, a smile that wasn't quite a smile on my lips. "Aren't you going to answer that? What if it's urgent?"
Bruno stiffened.
Beads of sweat broke out along his hairline. He forced a laugh. "It's nothing. Just a spam call."
"Is that so?"
I smiled. "Funny. I could've sworn that number belongs to that little assistant you let go."
The color drained from his face.
He looked up, panic flickering in his eyes. "Agatha, what are you talking about? I haven't been in contact with her in ages—"
He was still scrambling for words when a commotion erupted near the entrance.
A figure came stumbling through the doors.
"Bruno! Help me, Bruno!"
She was shouting without a care for who heard, barreling past security guards who couldn't hold her back.
By the time Bruno registered what was happening, his face had gone ashen.
It was Genevieve.
Every head in the room turned. Whispers rippled through the crowd like wildfire.
"Agatha, I—I honestly have no idea what's going on!"
Bruno stood rigid beside me.
Of course he didn't know. Because I was the one who'd made it happen.
Genevieve spotted Bruno and broke down completely.